Signal-bell for bowling-alleys.



L. M. GARMAN.

SIGNAL BELL FOR BOWLING ALLEYS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1914.

.iL MQ-AQQ; Patented July 13, 1915.

vwewtoz A LJZQr/Wan, fi iwc LAWRENCE MARION GARMAN, OF EL RENO,OKLAHOMA.

SIGNAL-BELL FOR BOWLING-ALLEYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 24, 1914. Serial No. 820,786.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE MARION GARMAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at El Reno, Oklahoma, in the county of Canadian andState of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Signal-Bell forBowling-Alleys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in signal bellsfor bowling alleys and the object in View is to produce a device of thisnature so arranged that, when the last of a series of ten pins isknocked down by the rolling of a ball, a signal may be sounded.

My invention comprises various details of construction, combinations andarrangements of parts which will be hereinafter fully described, shownin the accompanying drawings and then specifically defined in theappended claims.

1 illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which: I

vFigure 1 is a view in elevation of pins set up, parts of the framebeing in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the pinsythe casingbeing shown in section. Fig. 3 is a central sectional view showing thespring-pressed means for automatically ringing a bell. Fig. 4 is adetail view of a bell striking hammer. Fig. 5 is a top plan view, and ofthe various pins and connections therewith. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailin elevation of one of the pins and connections therewith.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, Adesignates a standard of the frame A", and B the alley.

A series of rods G, shown clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, 1s mountedin a horizontal plane in the opposite walls of the frame and a series often pins, each designated by' letter I), is pivotally mounted upon saidrods, yn-eferably in triangular or pyramidal shape, as shown.

The lower portion of each pin is positioned a slight distanceabove thealley and so arranged that, when a ball s ikes against the lower portionof the pin, it may be caused. to tilt toward a horizontal position. Eachpin has a lateral project-ion E adjacent to its pivotal point at rightangles to the pin and to which projection a head F of the plungcr F ispivotally connected. .A coiled spring I bears yieldingly against saidhead and a portion of the lateral projection H.

upon the standard and tends to hold the pin eitherin'a vertical orsubstantially horizontal position, accordingly as to whether the springis positioned as shown in solid lines in Fig. 6 of the drawings and inwhich position the pivotal point of connection of the head F and plungerF will be below. a

,line drawn through the hinge of the pin and the abutment H, or in theposition shown in dotted'lines when tilted.

A reel frame K is fastened to the standard, and L designates a shaftjournaled in said frame and to which a reel K is fixed. A coiled springK has one end fixed to the frame K and its other end secured to theshaft L. A bell-striking hammer I is fastened to the shaft L and one endthereof which, whenthe reel is under tension of said spring K ispositioned a slight distance from the bell N, is adapted to strike thelatter each time the shaft is given a partial revolution. -Ropes O aresecured to and adapted to wind about the reel and each rope is securedto a bail-shaped member 0, shown clearly in Fig. 3' of the drawings,each member having angled ends 0 which are pivotally connected to eyesIt fastened to pins adjacent to and below their pivotal points.

When the pins are set up in readiness for use, the various ropes areheld taut by the tension of the spring K acting upon the reel and thesprings I, it being understood that the tension of any one spring I,when acting to hold a pin in an upright position, is suflicient toprevent the reel from making a partial revolution.

It will be noted that, when a pin is tilted by the rolling of a ballagainst the lower end, the pin will tilt and the tension of the.

spring bearing against the pin when tilted will hold the pin in asubstantially horizontal position and which will be the case with all ofthe pins as they are tilted. It will be noted that, when the pin tilts,the rope connected thereto will be slack and, when all the pins but oneare tilted, the rope connected to the last pin will be taut and willtend to still hold the reel from rotating under the action of the pinconnected therewith but, when the last pin tilts causing the ropeconnected thereto to slack, the reel will be allowed to make a partialrevolution under the tension of its spring to cause the hammer to strikethe bell to give a signal.

The various pins may be turned by hand Patented July is, 15.915. I

to their normal positions and be held in such positions by the coiledsprings which, are mounted upon the various plungers connected thereto.

What I claim to be new is 1 An automatic apparatus for bowling alleyscomprising a frame, a series of pivotally mounted ten pins thereon, aspringpressed reel, ropes fastened one to each pin and winding aboutsaid reel, spring-pressed means connected to each pin and adapted tohold the pins either in an upright or horizontal position, and means forsounding an alarm when all of the pins are tilted to horizontalpositions.

2. An automatic apparatus for bowling.

alleys comprising a frame, a series of pivotally mounted ten pinsthereon, a spring-. pressed reel, ropes fastened one to each pinand'winding about said reel, spring-pressed means connected to each pinand adapted to hold the pins either in an upright or horizontalposition, a bell and astriker rotating with the reel, said reel adaptedto rotate only When all of the pins are tilted to horizontal position. v

3. Anautomatic apparatus for bowling alleys comprising a frame, a seriesof pivotally mounted ten pins thereon, a lateral projection upon eachpin, a spring-pressed plunger having a head pivotally connected to'saidprojection and designed to, hold the pin in 'vertical or horizontalpositions, a spring-pressed reel, ropes secured to and winding thereon,and a bail-shaped member secured to each rope and having its endspivotally connected to a pin, and an alarm adapted to be actuated byrotation of the reel when allthe pins are tilted.

LAWRENCE MARION GA-RMAN.

Witnesses R. K. GARFIELD, ARTHUR R. CLAY,

Uopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

